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Mr. EMERSON'S SERMON 



DeatJ) of ^adam ^Botodoin. 



SERMON, 



DELIVERED IN 



BRATTLESTREET CHURCH, BOSTON, 

ON THE 

SUNDAY AFTER THE INTERMENT 

OF 

Madam (2Blijatieti) 'Botritioin, 

Relia of the late 

Honourable JameiBf QBOtODoin, Es^ 



WHO DEPARTED LIFE MAY 5, i8oi, IN THE SEVENTY SEC 
OND YEAR OF HER AGE. 



^ 



BY W. EMERSON, 

MINISTER OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 




BOSTON : 
Printed by DAVID CARLISLE. 

1803. 



ly 7i 



SERMON. 



Dn tfje combineU influence of Beligion mti 
Beputation, 



Luke i. 6. 

jfnd they were both righteous before God, walking in 
all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord 
blameless. 

IvELIGION is truly the solace and the 
ornament of human nature. It is our comfort at 
home, and our recommendation abroad. It sheds 
a golden sunshine on the days of prosperity ; ad- 
ministers comfort in the night of afflidion ; multi- 
plies the joys, and alleviates the distresses, of every 
individual of every order. 

But there is no class of people in society, ia 
which the practice of religion is so graceful and so 

important, 



/c) 



important, as that of the rich and respedable. 
Talents, honours, and weahh hold a sort of nat^ 
ural sway over the opinions of mankind. Their 
influence is irresistible by the pride of philofophy, 
or the dogmas of the bigot. What the head of a 
family is to its members, great men are to the com- 
munity. Their lessons are reverenced, and their 
manners followed. They give a tone to the senti- 
ment of the publick ; and as their example is vir- 
tuous or vitious, the standard of morals is elevated 
or depressed. 

To observe, therefore, in the honourable grades 
of life, instances of exemplary virtue, rejoices the 
heart, not of the christian merely, but of every 
friend to the general welfare. Two characters of 
this complexion are defcribed in the text. Among 
the Jews, thofe families which partook of the 
priesthood, were accounted noble. The genealogy 
of the venerable pair, who are here the subjed of 
praife, is thus particularly noted. There was in 
the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain 
priest, named Zacharias, of the course of Abia ; 
and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and 
her name was Elizabeth. And they were both 
righteous before God, walking in all the command- 
ments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 

Three 



Three articles of charadler, remarkable in these 
aged and illustrious persons, demand our attention. 
First, they were both righteous before God. Sec- 
ondly, they walked in all the ordinances and com- 
mandments of the Lord. Thirdly, they were 
blameless. 

The first article implies real religion in opposition 
to its forms. The second implies ritual religion in 
opposition to a contempt of rites. The third im- 
plies a reputation for religion in opposition to re- 
puted hypocrisy. 

The first article of character, which is marked 
in the text, implies real religion in opposition to its 
forms. They were both righteous before God. 
Their religion was sincere. It was that of the 
heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter ; and had 
for its objeft, not the applause of men, but the ap- 
probation of God. Do not hence understand me 
as saying, that these righteous persons were free 
from human imperfeftions. Angelick purity is un- 
attainable by man. Their righteousness was the 
righteousness of Job, who is termed a perfect and up- 
right man, one that feared God and eschewed evil ; 
who held fast his integrity, although urged to sin 
by diabolical temptations. Their righteousness was 
that of the man, whom the bible calls perfect, and 

to 



8 



to whom it points our regard. Mark the perfect 
man, and behold the upright ; for the end of that 
man is peace. Their righteousness consisted in a 
conscientious and uniform endeavour to do justly, 
love mercy, and walk humbly before God. Such 
sincerity and such efforts constitute the perfeftion, 
which the gospel requires. The will of God con- 
cerning us, under all dispensations, is a pious temper 
and a virtuous life. The righteousness which God 
approves and will gloriously reward, is manifested 
in resignation to his government, and confidence in 
his mercy ; in a meek, inquiring, teachable mind ; 
in cheerfully receiving and following those supernal 
revelations, which God is pleased to add to natural 
light ; in the practice of equity, peaceableness, and 
compassion towards our fellow-mortals ; and in the 
iiabits of personal purity and fortitude, discretion 
and fidelity. This is the righteousness which is im- 
mortal ; which is a crown of glory unto them who 
wear it ; a tree of life to them who repose them- 
selves in the shadow of its branches. This is the 
bread, of which if a man eat, he shall never hun- 
ger : this is the water, of which if a man drink, he 
shall never thirst ; for it shall be within him a well 
of water, springing up unto everlasting life. It is 
this, which forms the citizen of Zion, and qualifies 
the inhabitant of any age, and the disciple of any 
teacher, for ihc worship of a celestial tabernacle. 

It 



It is this, which will gather together a seled commu- 
nity from the north and from the south, from the east 
and from the west, and associate Plato and Epide- 
tus, Boyle and Butler, with Abraham and Moses, 
Peter and John, in the kingdom of heaven. With- 
out this the most splendid forms of religion are 
vapid, and the most solemn professions, sounding 
brass and a tinkling cymbal. Destitute of this 
principle of virtue rooted in the mind, and branch- 
ing out into all the varying duties of life, the most 
numerous ceremonials are worthless, as the withered 
leaves of autumn. The flocks of Sharon cannot 
furnish an acceptable sacrifice from him, whose 
heart is not right with God. The incense of She- 
ba's spicy groves has no fragrance, except when of- 
fered with a pure mind. It is the breath of sincere 
devotion, that perfumes the observance of every 
rite ; the tongue of truth and kindness, which gives 
value to every vow ; and the hand of beneficence, 
which sanations our religious claims. 

This is the meaning of righteousness before God. 
This is one article of character belonging to the ex- 
cellent persons described in my text. They pos- 
sessed real religion, in opposition to that, which is 
merely formal. 

In the second place, they honoured, instead of 

contemning ritual religion. They walked in all 

B the 



lu 



the comnijindnicrits and ordinances of the Lord. 
If it is the guilt of some persons to rest in the 
mere observance of forms, it is the errour of others 
to reject the use of all religious institutions. They 
deem themselves too wise to be taught by the scrip- 
tures, and consider the light of nature sufficiently 
strong without any assistance from that of revela- 
tion. They even question the expedience of di- 
vine worship ; and if they do not say in words. 
What is the Almighty, that wc should serve him ? 
they certainly say by their anions, What profit 
should we have, if we pray unto him ? Others there 
are, and perhaps this Is the most numerous class of 
any, who feel a regard for virtue, and think, that 
its practice is, on the whole, promoted by sacred in- 
stitutions. At the same time, they are unwilling 
to bind themselves by religious vows, lest they 
should fail of paying that, which they shall have 
vowed ; lest the yoke of Christ should prove griev- 
ous, and his ordinances a burden ; lest the precision 
of manners and high attainments becoming his dis- 
ciples, should obstruct their progress to riches and 
renown, and too severely restrift the indulgence of 
their passions. They wish well to the cause of re- 
ligion, and possibly contribute much to its support ; 
but they wish also an exemption from walking in 
all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, 
through fear of offending a fashionable world. 
They are willing, and perhaps desirous, that these 

rites 



II 



rites should be observed ; whilst they withhold 
from such an observance the influence of their own 
example. 

Not such were the Jew and Jewess, whom saint 
Luke immortalizes. They considered the com- 
mand of God in regard to religious institutions, as 
founded in perfed wisdom. They supposed, what 
the experience of all generations teaches, that the 
rites of religion are necessary to the preservation of 
religion itself ; that a maintenance of the form of 
godliness is essential to its power ; and that the in- 
struftions and ceremonies of the church are, in a 
manner, the sources of righteousness, whence flow 
those streams of private virtue, which refresh and 
enrich the various departments of social life. 
These eminent persons considered also, what is sac- 
redly true in all periods of time, that there is one 
way only to heaven for the rich and the poor ; 
that people of obscurity and people of distinction 
must tread the same thorny path of selfdenial and 
humility, in pursuit of celestial honour, and that 
the means of holiness are equally necessary for all 
ranks of mankind, in their labours to enter into that 
rest, which remains for the children of God. Last- 
ly, they considered the immense importance of add- 
ing to their pious precepts the lustre of their pious 
example. Vain are the endeavours of the pastor to 
reclaim the sheep that are wandering from the fold, 

if 



12 



if he does not allure them as well by the innocence 
of his manners, as by the calls of his voice. Rul- 
ers may ena£t laws for the encouragement of piety 
and order ; but if they have no regard to the work 
of their hands, how is it to be expected, that the 
ruled will lead peaceable lives in all godliness and 
honesty ? That children fhould be obedient, and 
servants faithful, parental counsels muft be recom- 
mended by parental virtue, and masters rhust them- 
selves be models of that punctuality and corredlness, 
which they inculcate. So likewise the opulent and 
powerful, they who ordain our customs, and shape 
our habits, whom God has raised to be guardians, 
both of the moral health, and of the political sound- 
ness of the state, must reverence and observe the in- 
stitutions of religion, if they would see this reverence 
and observance paid by inferiour orders of the com- 
munity. They are pressed to this duty by a two- 
fold obligation. The furtherance of their own im- 
mortal welfare, and the salvation of all, whom their 
example influences, call them to this service. Be- 
tween the effed of their behaviour and that of the 
obscure there is an immeasurable difference. The 
virtues and vices of the poor man may be said to 
perish with him ; but those of the great are preserv- 
ed alive and propagated, long after their bodies 
have mouldered away. By walking therefore in 
all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, 
Zacharias and Elizabeth performed a duty equally 

beneficial 



'3 



beneficial to themselves, and the age in which they 
lived. In addition to what they enjoyed from the 
high satisfa£lIon, which springs from conscious vir- 
tue, they already saw the fruits of their piety grow- 
ing around them, and beheld in prospeft future 
ages, through their righteousness, instructed and 
made happy. 

Thirdly, they were blameless. They enjoyed 
the reputation of religion, instead of suffering the 
imputation of hypocrisy. As they were righteous 
before God, in whose estimation sincerity is perfec- 
tion, so their principles and conduct were irreproach- 
able by the world. This is not the uniform privi- 
lege of true religion, and ritual observances. Such 
is the censoriousness of the wicked, that they will 
rarely allow to others better motives, than those, by 
which their own condud is guided. They are 
generally inclined to put the v/orst construction on 
dubious adions, and sometimes to darken the splen- 
dour of the purest and most shining chara6lers. 
Habituated to call evil good and light darkness, 
they attribute to noble deeds a base origin. They 
denominate humility meanness, charity ostentation, 
forgiveness of injuries cowardice, and an attend- 
ance on divine institutions, an useless and hypocrit- 
ical service. There are however some characters 
in society, who are happy enough to live blameless 
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation ; 

who 



14 



who shine as lights in the world, and have the good 
fortune to see their light reflected, and to hear their 
merits acknowledged. Such were the amiable per- 
sonages charaderized in the text. They were 
righteous before God, and none questioned their 
sincerity. They regularly observed the ceremoni- 
als of religion ; and it was the general opinion, 
that this observance was the result of upright views. 
They faithfully discharged their social obligations, 
and this social virtue was deemed the offspring of 
consciences void of offence. They attended to 
what is honourable, not only in the sight of the 
Lord, but also in the sight of men, and thus enjoy- 
ed in the world the spotless and illustrious fame, to 
which they were entitled. Venerable and happy 
pair ! With what sacred pleasure we cherish your 
memory in our hearts ! Unborn generations shall 
pronounce your elogy ; for wherever our holy gos- 
pel shall be preached throughout the whole world, 
there shall your example be held forth for the de- 
light and the imitation of believers. 

But examples of distinguished worth, my breth- 
ren, are not the exclusive privilege of ancient times. 
Our records, as well as the annals of the earliest 
christians, preserve the names of men and of women, 
who have been equally celebrated for their rank 
and their virtues. In this infant empire, and in 
this part of our country, God has raised up numer- 
ous 



15 



ous characters, to proted the state, to rule in the 
house of God, to rear and adorn the youthful mind, 
and to bless the circle of friendship with a display 
of all the tender charities of life. Am I not per- 
mitted to say, this individual church of our Lord 
Jesus Christ has nursed children in her bosom, who 
have been supporters of religion, patrons of sci- 
ence, defenders of civil liberty, and models of pru- 
dence, fidelity, and grace in domestick scenes ? In 
what civilized country on the globe has not the 
name of bowdoin been uttered with respedt ? 
It is enrolled in every society, whose object is the 
promotion of literature and philosophy ; it is famil- 
iar in every cabinet, where principles of political 
freedom are duly revered. It is more than tweive 
years, since that most excellent charafter, whom I 
have now recalled to your minds, resigned his 
claim to the light of our world ; yet his memory 
is still blooming and fragrant, and, with that of all 
the wise and just, shall flourish through successive 
periods. Of the native strength and greatness of 
his mind ; of his love and cultivation of letters ; of 
his energies as a patriot ; and of his glory as a gov- 
ernour ; it is not my present province to speak. 
This is the fertile field of the American historian. 
But the late lamented exit of his once lovely and af- 
fedionate consort, naturally awakens the remem- 
brance of their united and distinguished worth in 
private life. For concerning them, as concerning 

the 



i6 



the devout and honourable persons described in my 
text, it may with truth be said, They were both 
righteous before God, walking in all the command- 
ments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Their 
house was a house of prayer, and their oraisons and 
alms ascended a grateful memorial before the throne 
of the Highest. They were christians from inquiry 
and principle j and though remote from ostentation 
in religion, yet they felt themselves obligated pub- 
lickly to manifest that reverence, which they felt 
for its forms and institutions. To their faith in the 
saviour, they joined an open profession of his gos- 
pel, and maintained a steady adherence to their pro- 
fessional character, as protestant dissenters. Like 
their blessed master, they were careful to fulfil all 
righteousness ; whilst the purity, reftitude, and be- 
neficence of their lives proved them to be principal- 
ly intent on attaining the end of religion, which is 
the pradice of virtue. In the midst of affluence, 
they were not luxurious ; surrounded by depend- 
ents, they were not oppressive. Their mansion 
was the seat of wealth, politeness, and connubial 
bliss ; containing within its walls the rare associa- 
tion of magnificence with contentment, and of 
publick care with private repose. 

Whoever is acauainted with human nature, and 
can duly estimate the importance of conjugal hap- 
piness, will attribute no small portion of this do- 

mestick 



17 



mestick prosperity to the honourable lady, whom 
you have recently followed to the tomb. 

It was her felicity to descend from a respeftable 
family, and to enjoy the instruftion of a mother, 
who was remarkably attentive to the education of 
her children. Inheriting from nature a sound un- 
derstanding, she enriched it with knowledge ; and 
the charms of her fine person were embellished by 
an elegant taste and pleasing manners. In conver- 
sation she was instru£tive and facetious ; and few 
persons, even of her class and opportunities, could 
boast of greater companionable qualities. Her most 
valuable and durable attradions however consisted 
in a principle of religion, which she early imbibed, 
and under whose influence she uniformly lived. In 
the possession of these accomplishm.ents, at once 
solid and brilliant, it scarcely need be said, that, up- 
wards of forty years, she was the pride and the sol- 
ace of her admirable husband. With him she shar- 
ed the honours of that hospitality, order, and de- 
corum, which their habits and dignified station led 
them to exercise ; and with him she walked in the 
paths of that piety and that wisdom, which alone 
give true dignity to the human kind. Forming her 
attachments on principle, she seldom had occasion 
to regret them ; and because she was steady and 
consistent in her friendships, her friends recipro- 
cated her esteem. To strangers she was polite ; to 
C her 



i8 



her acquaintance affable ; to servants gentle ; to the 
alllicled compassionate ; and to the needy charita- 
ble. To her children and descendants she opened 
her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue was the 
law of kindness. Their reverence and emulation 
of her virtues, whilst living, and their tears for 
her loss, arc the certain pledge of her worth, and 
now with filial gratitude they arise and call her 
blessed. 

Such was the virtuous and honourable madam 
Bowdoin, who corredly and exemplarily discharged 
the duties of an elevated and important station ; 
who was discreet in the gay season of youth j cheer- 
ful amidst the debilities of age ; who filled the mid- 
dle ground of life with a rich profusion of varied 
usefulness ; who died in a manner worthy of her holy 
faith, and the grandejur of her hopes ; and defcend- 
ed to the grave, like as a shock of corn cometh in, 
in its season, her hoary head a crown of glory unto 
her, being found in the way of righteousness. 

May her excellencies irradiate the charaders of 
her offspring ! May the spirit and honours of their 
ancestry be successfully cherished by them and their 
posterity, for their own and their country's good, as 
long as civil liberty and religious toleration shall 
be blessings to man ! 



In 



19 



In contemplating the well spent life, and peaceful 
end, of this upright and estimable woman, who does 
not breathe a secret prayer, Let me also die the 
death of the righteous ! Suffer me, fellow-christians, 
to make use of this tender moment for pressing up- 
on you the duties, which have been treated and ex- 
emplified in this discourse. In the place of your 
late beloved pastor, who, on this occasion, would 
have eloquently called your attention to the unseen 
world, but who now can speak to you only from the 
tomb, let me provoke you to that faith, which you 
cannot but admire, to that virtue, which you can- 
not but love, and to that blameless reputation, which 
is so precious in the eyes of all. Especially may I 
be heard by you, whom Providence has distinguish- 
ed for birth, and riches, and knowledge, and pow- 
er. Think of the extensive influence you possess, 
and of the vafl consequences, which your conduct 
involves. Hundreds and thousands of the Jews 
were undoubtedly the better for the righteousness 
of Zacharias and Elizabeth ; and the condu6l of 
hundreds and thousands, in our own community, 
has been benefitted by the virtuous example of the 
illustrious house, whose pidlure I have been at- 
tempting to sketch. 

Where then Is the head of a family, on whom 
heaven has showered down its blesslnp-s, to whom 
many eyes are turned, and for whose words many ears 

are 



20 



are open ? Let him resolve with the courage of a no- 
ble Israelite, As for me and my house, we will serve 
the Lord. Where is the woman of distindion, of an 
enlarged understanding, of delicate sensibility, of 
generous inclinations ; whose peliteness softens the 
temper, and whose dignity and grace command the 
respect, of all whom she meets ? As queen Esther re- 
solved to save her people from destruction, so let her 
resolve to save her children and friends from that 
excess of frivolous amusements, from that unprofit- 
able reading, and from that corrupt company, which 
pollute, in a degree, the manners of every age. It 
is thus, ye christian matrons, that you will render 
righteousness lovely, by making it fashionable. 
Through the aid of your countenance and exam- 
ple, religion will be deemed honourable. The mul- 
titude will be delighted to tread in your steps, and 
with you will be emulous of walking in all the 
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blame- 
less. AMEN, 









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